True Knowledge and Peace: Relationship with Christ

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. – Hosea 4:6a

Throughout His earthly life, Jesus of Nazareth always rested in the knowledge of God the Father via  His relationship with Him. It was Jesus’ tried-and-true knowledge of God the Father, His love and His purpose of glory, which sustained our Lord through all His tribulations and persecutions.

Although He shared the Father’s tremendous concern for all wayward people and suffered immensely on our behalf, Jesus was ever joyful; this was because He knew God and His word (joy indeed!) through experiencing an intimate relationship with Him. Jesus of Nazareth’s knowledge of God was true knowledge, that is, it was of His heart/Spirit, and was not merely intellectual knowledge – it was not merely the knowledge of His human mind/soul.

Jesus was joyful even as He celebrated the last supper with His disciples hours before He was to suffer exceedingly above and beyond what we can imagine. Jesus comforted His disciples in preparation for the harrowing challenge their faith was about to face: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me…. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid…. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 14:1; 27; 15:11)

Therein lies a key command: Do not let your hearts be troubled. In other words, “fear not.” This is reportedly the most repeated command throughout all of Scripture, relayed via varied phrases such as this one in John 14. In addition to commanding us not to fear, God commands us [a]bove all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23, NIV 2011). Praise God, He enables us to do everything He commands of us through the indwelling Holy Spirit!

Now behold and meditate on this gem: the heart is the soil in which the word of God is sown (see Matt.13:19). It is with our hearts that we know and understand God (see Matt. 13:15). Do you know why?

Because God is love (1 John 4:16), and He dwells in our hearts (see Gal. 4:6). This explains much, including why Paul prayed that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know… (Ephesians 1:17, emphasis added). Remember that the Pharisees knew God’s word inside out, but it was with their minds/souls; they did not recognize God incarnate before them, for their hearts were hardened.

Now apprehend this key connection: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment (1 John 4:18). Behold the grace: Jesus received our punishment in full on our behalf! The perfect love of God in Jesus Christ drives out all our paralyzing fear every blessed time we align ourselves with this glorious truth!

It is finished (John 19:30), and fear is driven out by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. God procured His Sabbath-rest for us through the flesh and blood of His Son 2,000 years ago, and has put His Spirit into our hearts to make that blessed rest a reality this very moment – and the next – and the next… Hallelujah!

Our part is to [m]ake every effort to enter into that rest (Hebrews 4:11) by guarding our emotions and knowing Christ via an intimate relationship of continuous utter child-like dependence upon Him. That is obedience and faith!

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)     Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you; he shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22 – NKJV)

Releasing all fears/troubles to Christ with you through the power of the Holy Spirit, your sister deanna